As summer wanes, the fall arts and entertainment schedule waxes. From now through Thanksgiving, local stages and galleries will be filled with an overwhelming number of openings and performances. We know you''re busy, so we''ve put together a schedule of some of the most significant openings and performance schedules throughout the fall so you can make plans now. Who says there''s nothing to do after dark in Monterey County?

Theater

Call theaters for showtimes and ticket prices.

California''s First Theater

Scott and Pacific streets, Monterey. 375-4916.

Through Oct. 2. The Road to Frisco, a 19th-century melodrama about a hero, a heroine, a villain, and a stolen map to a California goldmine.

Oct. 8-Nov. 28. Ruined By Drink, a 19th-century melodrama about the perils of evil living.

Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

Guadalupe Street at 4th Avenue, Carmel. 624-7491.

Sept. 10-Oct. 3. Mizlansky/Zelinsky or Schmucks, a sharp, funny Hollywood comedy directed by Conrad Selvig.

Carmel Performing Arts Festival

Various venues, Carmel. 624-7675.

Oct. 1-Oct. 17 Three weekends of music, dance, theater and spoken word, by local and out-of-town artists, including gala events and receptions. Call for schedule and prices.

Carmel Festival of Firsts

Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at 8th Avenue, Carmel. 624-3996.

Performances and readings of winners of Carmel''s annual national playwriting competition.

Sept. 17-26, first-place winner, Feet of Clay, will be performed.

Sept. 21 and 22, runner-up plays Erdemovic and Amber Waves will receive staged readings.

Magic Circle Center for the Arts

8 El Caminito, Carmel Valley Village. 659-1108.

Nov. 5-Dec. 5. The Orphans, a psychological drama about two brothers and the older man they kidnap.

Monterey Peninsula College

980 Fremont St., Monterey.

At the Morgan Stock Theater (Main Stage):

Oct. 7-Oct. 24. Alice in Wonderland, a non-traditional, humorous take on the familiar children''s classic.

Dec. 2-Dec. 19. Moon Over Buffalo, a ''30s-style "stage door" comedy of manners.

At the SRO Theater:

Sept. 9-Sept. 26. Luv, a spoof of avant-garde drama, by Murray Schisgal.

Nov. 11-Nov. 27. The Voice of the City, O. Henry stories adapted and directed by Jose Lambert.

Pacific Repertory Theater

Monteverde Street between 8th and 9th avenues, Carmel. 622-0100.

At the Golden Bough Theater:

Sept. 12-Oct. 17. Shakespeare''s comedy Merry Wives of Windsor.

At the Circle Theater:

Through Oct. 16. Fortinbras, Lee Blessing''s hilarious take-off on Hamlet.

At the Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita at Mountain View, Carmel.

Through Sept. 26. The Sound of Music, musical about the singing Von Trapp family and the nun who led them.

Oct. 2-Oct. 17. Shakespeare''s tragedy, King Lear.

Performance Carmel

Sunset Center, San Carlos Street at 8th Avenue, Carmel. 624-3996.

Oct. 2, 8pm. Reduced Shakespeare Company presents The Complete Millennium Musical (Abridged). The wacky comedy team that pilloried Shakespeare, the Bible and U.S. History turn their twisted sights on all of European history from the past 1,000 years.

Nov. 6, 8pm. New York actor and Red-Diaper Baby Josh Kornbluth performs Ben Franklin: Unplugged, a one-man show examining the myths and legends surrounding one of America''s favorite founding fathers.

Staff Players Repertory Company

Indoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita at Mountain View, Carmel. 626-1681.

Oct. 5-17. A Girl On the Prairie, a one-woman show by Marcia Gambrell Hovick examines the life of writer Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of Little House on the Prairie.

Oct. 21-Nov. 21. Leaving Will, an original work by Lee Brady takes a wry look at hopeless love.

Unicorn Theater

The Hoffman Playhouse, 320 Hoffman St., Monterey. 649-0259.

Sept. 3-Oct. 3. Hot-L Baltimore, Lanford Wilson''s adult comedy about New York City''s Hotel Baltimore, a once-great establishment that has fallen into disrepute.

Sept. 18-Oct. 17. Christopher Robin and We, a children''s play about the popular A.A. Milne characters, Sat. and Sun. afternoons.

Oct. 8-Oct. 31. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Royal Shakespeare Co.''s 1991 version of the popular Victorian horror tale.

Oct. 23-Nov. 21. Ichabod Crane and Rip Van Winkle, a children''s play performed Sat. and Sun. afternoons.

Nov. 5-Nov. 21. Two one-act broad farces that involve actors filling multiple roles.

Western Stage

Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 755-6816; 375-2111.

On the Main Stage:

Through Sept. 11. Flower Drum Song, a musical about the clash of tradition and modernity in San Francisco''s Chinatown.

Oct. 1-Oct. 16. >...and now Miguel, a musical about Miguel Chavez, the middle child of a New Mexico sheep-farming family.

Nov. 5-Nov. 21. Fiddler on the Roof, the popular musical about life in a Jewish shtetl in turn-of-the-century Russia.

In the Studio Theater:

Sept. 17-Oct. 23. The Front Page, a comedy about a conniving Chicago newspaper editor who tricks his star reporter into covering just one more story.

Nov. 12-Nov. 21. Looking for Words, an original drama.

Gallery Exhibits

Ansel Adams Gallery

Inn at Spanish Bay, 2700 17 Mile Dr., Pebble Beach. 375-7215.

Through Sept.15. Photographs by Huntington Witherill.

Sept. 16-Oct. 31. Photographs by John Ryujie.

Nov. 1-Dec. 15. Selected works from the gallery''s collection, including John Wimberley, Huntington Witherill and Ansel Adams.

Carl Cherry Center for the Arts

Guadalupe Street at 4th Avenue, Carmel. 624-7491.

Sept. 3-Oct. 15. Art exhibit. Hope Kroll, New Assemblages and Paintings, book-related artworks.

Carmel Art Association

Sept. 3-Oct. 6. Watercolors by Rollin Pickford and W.F. Stone.

Sept. 23 and Sept. 30. Lectures

Oct. 6-Nov. 3. Monthly members'' show. Opening reception Oct. 9, 6-8pm.

Nov. 4-Dec. 1. Monthly members'' show features Wilda Northrop, Alicia Meheen and Edward Norton Ward. Opening reception Nov. 6, 6-8pm.

Nov. 18. Lecture on California Impressionism by Susan Landauer, from the San Jose Museum of Art, 7pm. Free.

Center for Photographic Art

At Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 8th Avenue, Carmel. 625-5181.

Sep

Nov. 5-Dec. 3. Earthscapes. Color landscapes from around the world by Robert Weingarten and Charlie Waite.

Dyansen Gallery

Carmel Plaza, Mission Street and Ocean Avenue, Carmel. 625-6903.

Through mid-September. Bronze sculptures by M.L. Snowden.

Late November. Modern Masters, lithographs, limited-edition prints, etchings, drawings and aquatints by Matisse, Picasso and Chagall.

Galeria Tonantzin

115 3rd St., San Juan Bautista. 623-2783.

Sept.4-Oct. 10. Urban Myths and Legends, by South Bay Area Women''s Caucus. Reception Sept. 11, 5-7pm.

Oct. 11-Nov. 18. Women''s Harvest.

Nov. 19-December. Eighth annual Images of the Virgin.

Grove Homescapes

472 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 656-0864.

Through October. Annual Calendar Show. Twelve artists depict the seasons of the calendar.

Oct. 29-Jan. 31, 2000. Tic-Toc. Millennium Invitational, by local artists.

Henry Miller Library

Highway 1, one mile past Nepenthe, Big Sur. 667-2714.

Opens Sept. 25. Fourth annual sculpture show, focusing on local artists.

KAZU''s Up To Date

167 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-7275.

Through Sept. 30. Oklahoma Pastels. Visions of Oklahoma by English artist Sylvia Bancroft-Hunt.

Oct. 9-Dec. 31. Paintings and drawings by Mexican artist Rafael Perea de la Cabada.

Martin LaBorde Gallery

6th Avenue between Lincoln and Dolores streets, Carmel. 620-1150.

Opens Sept. 18. Jazz paintings and prints by Don Hansen, additional works by Elizabeth Palmer.

Opens Oct. 17. Paintings and giclee prints by Carmel midrealist Paxton Mobley.

Monterey Conference Center

Alvarado Gallery, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. 646-3949.

Through Nov. 15. Shades of Monterey. Images of Monterey''s past, from the Monterey Public Library archives.

Monterey Museum of Art--Civic Center

559 Pacific St., Monterey. 372-5477.

Sept. 25-Nov. 28. Gold Fever: The Untold Story. Special exhibit commemorating the California Gold Rush of 1849, in the main gallery.

Sept. 18-Nov. 28. Jazz paintings by Peninsula artist Frank Ashley, in the Colburn gallery.

Sept. 25-March 2000. Weavers of Tradition. Baskets by Native Californians, on balcony walls.

Monterey Museum of Art--La Mirada

720 Via Mirada, Monterey. 372-5477.

Through Sept. 15. Armin Hansen: Man of the Sea. Etchings and paintings from the museum collections.

Through Sept. 26. Digital Frontiers: Photography''s Future at Nash Editions. Experimental color and black-and-white ink digital prints by various artists working with this groundbreaking printing house.

Oct. 23-March 2000. Contemporary California painters, in Dart Gallery.

November. Pre-Columbian works from the museum collection (tentative).

Opens November 5. Sculptures from Carmel''s Winfield Gallery, in courtyard gallery.

National Steinbeck Center.

1 Main St., Salinas. 796-3833.

Through Oct. 17. Bombs Away: Training for War. WWII training photographs by John Swope, on assignment with John Steinbeck in 1942.

Oct. 30-Dec. 31. Overcoming Barriers: Looking Toward the Millennium. Works by contemporary Hispanic artists who overcame cultural barriers to become well-established in the local and national arts community.

Pacific Grove Art Center

568 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove. 375-2208.

Sept. 3-26. Preview of Monterey County Artists'' Studio Tour ''99, featuring works by local artists participating in this year''s tour.

Sept. 3-26. Drawings by Katherine McKay and paintings by Diane Romaine.

Oct. 1-Oct. 22. Meetings. Juried show; Patrons'' show; Photographs by Lina Ortiz and Suzanne Biondo.

Oct. 29-Nov. 26. Special show by the Monterey Peninsula Art Foundation; Heinz Hubler in the photo gallery.

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 648-3116.

Through Sept. 19. Ed Ricketts: Out of the Tidepools. Photographs and letters examine the life of the Cannery Row marine biologist made famous as "Doc" Ricketts in John Steinbeck''s novels.

Through Oct. 17. Madagascar''s Biodiversity and Conservation. Unique flora and fauna from the Indian Ocean island.

Oct. 30-Dec. 26. Local Focus: a retrospective of nature photographs from Buying the Best.

Pajaro Valley Arts Council

37 Sudden St., Watsonville. 722-3062.

Sept.2-Oct. 16. Political Art and Propaganda. Propaganda posters from China, WWI, WWII and more.

Phillips Gallery

6th Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln streets, Carmel. 626-1126.

Sept.18-Oct. 8. Stone sculpture by Gedion Nyanhongo, a leader in the Zimbabwe Sculpture Movement.

Pitzer''s of Carmel

Dolores Street between 5th and 6th avenues, Carmel. 625-2288.

Sept. 20-Oct. 3. New works by Peninsula landscape painters Maurice Harvey and Molly Martin.

Sculpture House and Gardens

Highway 1, Carmel Highlands. 624-2476.

Through Oct. 15. Bronze sculptures by Mark Bava, oil paintings by Robert Setrakian.

Sept. 18-Oct. 15. Five life-size bronze sculptures of women by Lorraine Capparell, oil paintings by Francine Markoe.

Oct. 16-Nov. 26. Wood carvings by Robert Agnew, large abstract sculptures by Keith Bickford.

Seaside City Hall Gallery

440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. 899-6336.

Aug.28-Oct. 1. Juried jazz art show.

Oct. 2-Oct. 29. Works by Peninsula painter Mike Zambory.

Oct. 30-Nov. 26. Adult Competitive (Nov. 12 awards reception).

Valley Art Gallery

218 Main St., Salinas. 422-4162.

Through Sept.26. Florabunda, watercolors by Susan Dunklau.

Sept.26-Oct. 24. Masks by Elise Chezem.

Oct. 24-Nov. 28. Watercolors and fabric works by Joan Kimble. Reception Nov. 6, 3-5pm.

Weston Gallery

6th Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln streets, Carmel. 624-4453.

Through

Opens Nov. 17. Mexican Color, 25 new images by Jeffrey Becom. Artist''s reception Nov. 27, 4-6pm.

Zantman Art Galleries

6th Avenue at Mission Street, Carmel. 624-8314.

Opens Sept. 11. Duane Alt, oil paintings in the French Impressionist style. Artist''s reception Sept. 11, 4-7pm.

Opens Oct. 9. Italian oil painter Lucio Sollazzi, chiaroscuro works. Artist''s reception Oct. 9, 4-7pm.

Opens Nov. 13. American oil painter Flint Reed. Artist''s reception Nov. 13, 4-7pm.

Nov. 1-Jan. 15, 2000. The Magic of Miniatures. Pint-sized paintings and mixed-media works by artists represented by the gallery.

Music Festivals

Monterey Jazz Festival

Sept. 17-19. Monterey Fairgrounds. The world''s longest-running jazz festival returns with an all-star lineup of jazz musicians from around the world. Highlights of this year''s festival will come on Friday night with a spicy dose of Afro-Cuban jazz (Chucho Valdez, Poncho Sanchez, Los Van Van) and Saturday evening''s "Eastwood at Monterey" show that will feature a host of talents including Clark Terry, Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, Terence Blanchard, Lew Tabackin and others. 373-3366.

Fat Fry Fall Music Festival

Sept. 25, 26. Aptos Village Park, Aptos. Roots rock and Americana music festival. Saturday lineup: Anders Osborne Band, Peter Rowan, Ozomatli, John Cowan and String Cheese Incident. Sunday lineup: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Fred Eaglesmith, Derek Trucks Band, The Radiators and the Doobie Brothers. 420-2800.

Indian Summer Music Festival

Oct. 10. Meadows at Quail Lodge, Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. Sandy Shore Productions'' annual smooth jazz festival moves from Aptos to Carmel Valley this year with performances by Craig Chaquico, Willie & Lobo, Andy Narrell, Native Vibe and Cerro Negro. Prices: $35 for Lawn Seating (bring blankets & low back chairs). $75 per person for Concert Cafe seating (tables for 4 or more) near the stage which includes lunch and Lockwood Vineyard wine. 649-1223.

Clubs

Long Bar

180 E. Franklin St., Monterey. 372-2244

Oct. 6. Romeo Void. 1980s post-punk, dance band makes local appearance.

Oct. 21. Dread Zeppelin. "Stairway to Heaven" and other Led Zeppelin songs done to a reggae beat.

Oct. 24. Southern Culture on the Skids. Roots rock, trailer-trash style. Watch out for fried flying chicken when they launch into "Eight-piece Box."

Morgan''s Coffee and Tea

498 Washington St., Monterey. 642-4949

Sept. 11. Peter Rowan and Druha Trava. Respected American bluegrass/country-rock guitarist Peter Rowan joins with Czech bluegrass band.

Sept. 14. The Bad Livers. Texas-based band delivers rockin'' bluegrass satire (or is that satirical bluegrass rock?).

Sept. 17. Corey Harris. Up-and-coming New Orleans acoustic guitarist makes MoCo debut. Music stores file Harris under "blues"--but that doesn''t do him justice.

Classical

Carmel Bach Festival

Church in the Forest, Forest Lake Road, Pebble Beach. 624-2046.

Nov. 21. Classical guitarist Paul Galbraith plays transcriptions of works by J.S. Bach.

Carmel Music Society

Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. 625-9938.

Oct. 12. Veteran Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Florence Quivar delivers vocal recital.

Nov. 16. Violinist Hilary Hahn, acclaimed young American virtuoso/recording artist, makes first appearance in Carmel.

Chamber Music Monterey Bay

Sunset Center, San Carlos Street and 9th Avenue, Carmel. 625-2212.

Oct. 22. Emerson String Quartet, the international concert/recording artists (and Grammy winners) play quartets by Shostakovich, Debussy, Mendelssohn.

Nov. 20. Harid String Quartet, winner of 1998 annual Chamber Music competition, returns for program of Mozart, Bartok and Schubert.

Ensemble Monterey

Music Hall, Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont St., Monterey. 646-4200.

Oct. 30. John Anderson conducts an all-Copland program, including Applachian Spring, Clarinet Concerto (with soloist Bruce Foster) and Quiet City.

Monterey Symphony

Sunset Center, San Carlos Street & 9th Avenue, Carmel; Sherwood Hall, *940 N. Main St., Salinas. 624-8511.

Oct. 17, 18, *19. Anton Nanut conducts soloists (Elisabeth Meyer Topsoe, Gary Bachlund, Charles Austin), chorus/orchestra in a semi-staged production of Beethoven''s opera Fidelio.

Nov. 14, 15, *16. Flute soloist Patrick Galois conducts/performs Couperin''s Pieces en concert (featuring cellist Shauna Rolston), Faure''s Pelleas et Melisande, Saint-Saens'' Three Pieces for Flute, Debussy''s Afternoon of a Faun, d''Indy''s Lied (featuring cellist Rolston), Saint-Saens'' Cello Concerto in A Minor.

Mozart Society

Sunset Center, San Carlos Street & 9th Avenue, Carmel. 625-3637.

Oct. 15. Los Angeles Piano Quartet returns by popular demand.

Orion String Quartet, Nov. 18.

Salinas Concert Association

Main Stage, Hartnell College, 156 Homestead Ave., Salinas. 754-6829.

Oct. 10. 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Gold Medal winner Jon Nakamatsu presents solo recital.

Santa Cruz County Symphony

Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church St., Santa Cruz;

*Mello Center, East Beach and Lincoln streets, Watsonville. 420-5260.

Sept. 25; *Sept. 26. John Larry Granger conducts Ravel''s Alborada del Gracioso, Prokofiev''s Piano Concerto in C (featuring soloist Aaron Miller), Beach''s Symphony in E Minor "Gaelic."

Nov. 6. John Larry Granger conducts Schubert''s Symphony in B Minor "Unfinished," Mozart''s Violin Concerto in A "Turkish" (featuring soloist Frank Huang), Copland''s Applachian Spring.